Westwood Hills Nature Center is a great place to get lost on the trails for an afternoon.

This nature center is really centrally located, which makes it a convenient stop, no matter where you're coming from in the Twin Cities. Nestled into a residential area, you'll find acres and acres of wooded beauty, all set amongst meandering forest trails. Along your hiking journey, you'll wander through marshy areas, wooded areas, and restored prairie. Over the past few years, we've tended to visit the same few nature centers over and over, so this was actually our first time here at Westwood Hills, and once I saw how gorgeous it was in-person, I was surprised it took us so long to visit here. I had heard it was beautiful, and it did not disappoint.

The kids and I hiked around, first exploring the trail as it meandered back behind the interpretive center. We found a little boardwalk with an overlook, and some big rocks the girls had a blast jumping off of. I swear, they would have stayed right there all afternoon, jumping off the rocks..it's so cool to see kids find the most simple ways to find joy outdoors.

The trails here are awesome, but I would definitely not consider them stroller-friendly, as just a short while after you get on the main trail, you'll find a huge, long set of stairs. There is no ramp or alternative way to access all the trails below. So, unfortunately, you have to either leave the stroller in the car, or bring it with you, knowing you'll have to leave it on the trail up above. I actually wasn't aware of the stairway, so I brought our stroller. However, since I had no valuables, I was totally ok with parking it just off the first trail. I did return to it to grab our lunch and extra water bottles, so it actually worked out for us. Another note to understand about the trails here is that bike riding is prohibited. There's absolutely no biking on these trails.

The trail system here at the nature center spans over three miles, and the views from the trail are really quite scenic. There are also a few docks that go out over the water from the trail, and the girls loved heading out there to see the view, and relax with a snack. We visited in the fall, and the forest was alive with color...it was gorgeous. I'd like to return in the spring and hike the whole loop around Westwood Lake. I think my kids would love it. Plus, Westwood Hills is open 365 days a year, so I know we can always come here. And their staff of naturalists offers all sorts of classes and special events throughout the year. We can't wait to return to this special nature preserve!